Kalani Brooke Hilliker was born on September 23, 2000 to Kira Girard. She dances at Club Dance Studio, and films for Lifetime's reality television series Dance Moms at the Abby Lee Dance Company. She started dancing at a young age. Kira has stated that she enrolled Kalani in dance classes because she loved to dress her up in big skirts and tutus. Kalani tried a number of other extracurriculars such as soccer before dance finally stuck. According to Kira, her and Kalani weren't in the best financial situation, so they had to clean up the dance studio every day after classes to pay for lessons.

Kalani kicked off her television dance career by appearing as part of AK Squared, a dance group that performed on Disney Channel's Shake It Up: Make Your Mark. Soon after, Kalani appeared on ABC Family's Bunheads and Lifetime's Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition. Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition is a televised dance competition hosted by Abby Lee Miller. It depicts young children and their mothers fighting for the top spot on the show and the winner is rewarded with a scholarship to the Joffrey School of Ballet in New York. Although Kalani didn't win, she was a member of the final three of season 2, and was even said to be Abby's favorite contestant. Shortly after finishing the show, Kalani arrived at the Abby Lee Dance Company, Miller's dance studio in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and began filming for Dance Moms. During season 4's mid-season break, Kira and Kalani left the show temporarily due to their refusal to sign Lifetime's contract for the show. However, they returned for the filming of season 5. Kalani use to still train and takes classes at the Abby Lee Dance Company in LA, but continued training with Club once filming for Dance Moms finished; she has since left the ALDC LA and has been training in other studios.

In 2016, Kalani was nominated for a Teen Choice award for choice dancer, but Maddie Ziegler won that year. That September, Kalani celebrated her sweet sixteen. In honor of her birthday, she got a Range Rover as her birthday present.[1][2][3] Kalani had received her learner's permit prior.

Kalani has appeared on several television programs, including Shake It Up, Bunheads, Dance Moms, and Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition.

In 2014, Kalani was training about 20 to 30 hours per week.

In the past, Kalani said that her favorite style of dance to perform was lyrical and her favorite to watch was contemporary, but in 2014, she has said she has no favorite style of dance because she loves all styles.

Kalani's dream job as a professional dancer would be as a background dancer for someone like Beyonce or Katy Perry.

Kalani is left-handed.

Kalani's favorite color is purple.

Kalani's favorite things about being a dancer are going to competitions and meeting new friends.

During season four of "Dance Moms," Maddie Ziegler said that Kalani was spending more time at the Zieglers' house than with her mother, Kira.

Kalani has designed her own line of dancewear for Purple Pixies and a line of socks.

Kalani has learned to be cautious around the cameras on Dance Moms because she says "they like to twist your words."

Her favorite solos that she'd ever performed as of 2015 were "Forever Young" and "Another Level."

Kalani's favorite style of dance is lyrical, but she loves to watch contemporary.